Articles, videos and more to keep your family healthy.
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Studies show COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are a safe and effective way to prevent COVID-19 illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 5 years and older gets vaccinated against COVID-19.
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Since COVID-19 vaccines became available, hundreds of millions of people in the U.S. have gotten vaccinated. But there are still many questions about the vaccines, such as how do they work, are they safe and who should get vaccinated.
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Regular physical activity is an important part of overall health, especially for growing children. Being active not only improves a child's physical health, it also offers cognitive and emotional benefits such as improving attention span and mental well-being.
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There is no doubt that 2020 was a difficult year. When 2021 arrived, along with COVID-19 vaccines, everyone was hopeful that the year would be better. However, this past year remained challenging for many people – especially parents.
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As COVID-19 continues to spread and children have risk of exposure, it’s important to understand when and where you can get your child tested. Jeffrey Kahn, M.D., Director of Infectious Disease at Children's Health℠ and Professor at UT Southwestern, shares more information about different types of COVID-19 tests, if they are accurate, tips to prepare your child and more.
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More than 6 million children in the U.S. are affected by seasonal allergies or hay fever, and allergy symptoms can spike when pollen counts are high. But during the pandemic, how can parents tell if their child's sniffle or sore throat is simply pollen-related or if it could be a sign of COVID-19?
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Year three of the pandemic started with a sudden spike in COVID-19, as the Omicron variant spread quickly through adults and kids. Fortunately, cases have decreased from the Omicron surge. You might be wondering: What happens next? Will there be another variant? Will COVID-19 ever end?
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The Omicron variant is now the most widespread COVID-19 variant in the U.S. The highly transmissible variant is causing a surge in cases. For many parents, it’s also causing renewed concern about their child’s health.
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For families around the world, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is affecting day-to-day lives in unprecedented ways. In addition to taking simple precautions such as regularly cleaning hands, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that families put distance between themselves and others to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. In response, many events, businesses and schools are temporarily closing.
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One way to help prevent the spread of COVID‑19 is to wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Learn how masks can help prevent the spread of COVID‑19 and see more ways to keep your family safe.
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During the COVID‑19 pandemic, face masks have played an important role in preventing illness. Wearing a well-fitted mask over your nose and mouth is a simple and effective way to reduce the spread of the virus from person to person.
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Due to the highly contagious Omicron variant, there has been a surge in positive COVID‑19 cases across the country. This increased spread of COVID‑19 has affected children as well as emergency rooms.
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As Omicron swept across the country, someone you know – or maybe even yourself or a family member – likely became infected with COVID-19. The highly contagious variant caused record numbers of COVID-19 cases, including in children. This leaves many parents wondering if they or their child got COVID-19, are they safe from getting it again?
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Sports have looked quite different during the COVID‑19 pandemic. As the virus continues to spread, one question might be unclear if an athlete receives a COVID‑19 diagnosis: When can they return to play safely?
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report indicating that children may be at an increased risk for developing diabetes after COVID-19 infection. As more children get COVID-19, parents may be concerned about these recent headlines and potential long-term health effects.
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Though we have learned how to prevent the spread of COVID‑19 by wearing a mask, physical distancing and getting vaccinated, physicians and researchers are continuing to uncover the best ways to treat this disease.
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On October 26, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID‑19 vaccine in children ages 5-11. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory committee is expected to recommend the vaccine in the coming week. Parents may feel excited about this news. Others may feel nervous or uncertain. Either way, you likely have questions about the COVID‑19 vaccine and if it's safe for your child.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for everyone, including kids and teens. Disruptions to routines, changes at school, and isolation from friends and family can take a toll on kids' mental health. Add in the health challenges and other uncertainties that many families face, and it's easy to understand why children may be feeling overwhelmed.
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This school year, parents face a big decision – send their child to school in-person or let them learn at home. Some parents are choosing a third option: learning pods.
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While COVID-19 continues to spread, parents across the country face an incredibly hard decision: Should children go back to school online? Or in-person?
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Reports about new strains of the virus that causes COVID‑19 may have you worried or asking questions. What do these variants mean for the pandemic? Are they more dangerous? How can I keep my family healthy?
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As COVID-19 continues to spread, it's important to take precautions to reduce your family's risk of infection. The best way to keep your family safe is taking preventive measures such as getting the COVID-19 vaccine if eligible, wearing a mask (if over age 2) and regularly washing hands.
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The Pfizer Bio-NTech vaccine is now authorized for use in children ages 5 and older. While many parents are excited that children and teens can get vaccinated, they may also have questions or feel uncertain about getting their child vaccinated.
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After a challenging year, many people are excited to celebrate the holiday season with friends and family. However, COVID-19 is still spreading, and it's important to continue to take precautions to stay healthy.
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COVID‑19 vaccines sent a collective sigh of relief across the country. Even if you have children too young for the vaccine, you likely felt safer about returning to some level of normal activity and life after you got vaccinated. But a new surge of COVID‑19 infections due to the Delta variant has resulted in some fully vaccinated people testing positive for COVID‑19 (called a "breakthrough" infection). That wave of new infections has also left many parents wondering how to keep their children safe.
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You may have heard about the COVID-19 Mu variant after cases were reported across the U.S., including in North Texas. Variants are versions of a virus that have changed as the virus spreads. Mu is one version of the COVID-19 virus that the World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring as a "variant of interest."
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For many families, vacations are a time to see relatives, relax and spend time together. When COVID‑19 first began to spread, many people canceled their existing travel plans. But as more people become vaccinated, travel is on the rise again.
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Early in the pandemic, parents may have found comfort in the fact that, for the most part, children did not appear to be at high risk for COVID‑19. Most cases were among adults, and adults over the age of 65 seemed to be at highest risk for severe illness.
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As more and more people become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, you may be wondering what you can do once you've received your shot. Can you return to life as normal? In some ways, yes, according to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood conditions. It affects the airways and breathing, which can make a respiratory infection like COVID-19 feel especially concerning. Thankfully, there are ways to keep asthma under control and to help prevent infection from COVID-19.
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As more people get vaccinated, many are hopeful and excited that we’re getting closer to ending the pandemic. However, as you consider the COVID-19 vaccine either for yourself or for your child, you may also have some concerns. There is a lot of misinformation out there – including the myth that the COVID-19 vaccine can cause infertility.
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You may have heard about rare COVID-19 vaccine side effects called myocarditis and pericarditis, or heart inflammation. As a parent, it's understandable to have some questions and concerns about this news. You may even wonder if you should delay your child's COVID-19 vaccine.
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Going back to school can bring excitement for some kids, and for others, some anticipation and worry. Young children can get nervous about leaving their parents. Older children may feel anxious about academics or how they'll fit in with their friends.
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As kids head back to school, there's likely a lot of excitement for seeing friends and having a more "normal" school year than last. However, there may also be some concern about how to keep students safe. COVID-19 is still spreading – and other common germs, viruses and infections are still easily shared among students.
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Coronaviruses (CoV) are a family of viruses that can infect both humans and animals. There are several types of coronaviruses that can infect humans. Some coronaviruses are common and cause mild cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, headache and cough. Other types of coronaviruses, such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)-CoV and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV, have caused more severe illnesses when outbreaks occurred.
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Returning to school after virtual learning may cause a wide range of emotions for many children and parents. The emotions can range from fear to excitement.
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With the Delta variant increasing COVID-19 cases across the country, face masks are still a part of our everyday lives. Wearing one is a simple and effective way to reduce the spread of the virus and keep our communities healthy.
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The use of e-cigarettes among teens has become a widespread health concern. Around 1 in 5 high school students report vaping, which has been associated with increased risk for infections, breathing problems in teens with asthma and chronic bronchitis.
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In 2020, many Halloween activities were canceled due to COVID-19. This year – thanks to the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine for anyone over 12 – many communities are hosting their annual pumpkin walks, fall festivals, trunk-or-treat parties and trick-or-treating events.
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As viruses spread, they constantly change. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have emerged and spread around the world. Recently, you may have heard a lot about the "Delta" variant, which is now the dominant strain in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Whenever an athlete takes extended time away from training and play, such as during recovery from a sports injury, it’s important to take steps to safely return to play. Athletes of all ages recently faced a unique situation when spring sports seasons were cut short due to social distancing measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
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Ever try to make a work call with children underfoot? No doubt, this has been a common experience as families stay home to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Many parents have had their hands full as they try to work, manage household chores and perform the job of homeschool teacher.
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As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged – and with it, many questions and fears – one comfort for many parents has been that so far, children do not appear to be at higher risk for COVID-19 than adults. There has been more focus on people ages 65 and older, as early data suggests that they are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
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Most of the time, eating at home makes it easier to choose healthy options than eating out. However, if you are home all day without a regular schedule, you may find it hard to resist frequent, unhealthy snacks and more difficult to take time out for a nutritious meal.
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As summer begins and many states relax social distancing guidelines, you may be wondering if you can start setting up playdates for your children again. They may be wondering, too, and asking when they can see their friends.
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As COVID-19 continues to spread, it's important to take steps to keep your family healthy. Wearing a face mask is one way to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19.
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Wearing a face mask is vital to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but the practice may cause acne for some. Many teens and young adults find that masks make their acne worse – or even give them acne for the first time. This mask-related acne, called "maskne," can make wearing a mask uncomfortable and irritating.
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Summer is typically a time of fun and relaxation for children and teens – offering a break from school and long days filled with swimming, cookouts, travel and time with friends. This summer, however, poses unique challenges and risks as cases of COVID-19 continue to spread and many families wonder how to navigate summer plans during a pandemic.